As the month of June kicks of so does the long awaited softball world series, the biggest event of the year that has fans on the edge of their seats the entire time. It’s also unfortunately one of the only times during the season that college softball is given a spot on the front of news outlets. The softball world series starts out with eight teams, this year it included five ranked teams and three unranked:
June 2, 2022
The games started on June 2 with all eight teams playing their first games of the series, deciding who goes to the next round of games and who gets pushed into the loser bracket. #5 Texas took their first win of the tournament against #7 UCLA in an exciting 7-2 upset. In the second game of the day, defending champions and #1 seed Oklahoma run-ruled Northwestern in an insane 13-2, 5 inning game. Oklahoma destroyed the game with not one but two grand slams to win their 39th run-rule game of this season. For those unfamiliar with the run-rule, if a team is leading by at least eight runs after 5 innings the game can be ended. In game 3 of the day, #14 Florida defeated Oregon State in a tense 7-1 game, Oregon took the lead quickly in the first inning but in the end they couldn’t keep up with Florida and headed to the loser bracket. To close out the first round of games the final two teams #7 Oklahoma State and unranked University of Arizona, played a 4-2 game giving Oklahoma State the win.
June 3, 2022
The second round of games quickly followed the first on June 3, with the losers of the first round facing elimination. UCLA proved victorious with a 6-1 over Northwestern who simply couldn’t come back from the 13-2 defeat in the previous game. In the last game of this elimination round Arizona took a 3-1 win over Oregon State to send them packing. The game was tied 1-1 until the sixth inning when Arizona took the lead to secure the win.
June 4, 2022
Defending champions, Oklahoma played their second game of the series against Texas. A rest day didn’t stop Oklahoma from bringing the heat to beat Texas 7-2 which brought them safely into the semifinals. Oklahoma State also brought in the win defeating Florida 2-0 to keep them in the running and sending them into the semifinals.
June 5, 2022
Florida was sent packing today after an 8-0 loss to UCLA in the loser bracket, UCLA now advanced to the semifinals on June 6 at 12pm to face the defending champions, Oklahoma, for a spot in the championship game. To wrap up this round of games Arizona faced Texas in what ended up being a 5-2 defeat. Texas now heads off to the semifinals to face Oklahoma State on June 6, at 7pm.
June 6, 2022
To kick off the semifinal round UCLA and Oklahoma face off at 12pm noon on ESPN, Oklahoma State and Texas play at 7pm also on ESPN.